3 August 2022 Insurance Ireland welcomes yesterday’s publication of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill (PIRB Bill), which is another positive step to reforming the Irish insurance landscape.
The PIRB Bill will amend the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003-2019 to increase the number of personal injury claims settled through the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) and to avoid the expense and time associated with litigation. It provides that:
- PIRB will offer mediation as a means of resolving a claim
- PIRB will retain claims of a wholly psychological nature
- PIRB will have additional time to assess claims where an injury is yet to settle rather than releasing to litigation
- PIRB will seek proof of identity on application and disclose information to An Garda Síochána to reduce fraud
- PIRB will deepen its analysis and public information roles
Given the provisions to extend PIAB’s remit and give it new statutory functions to resolve personal injury claims the PIRB Bill also provides for a change of name to the Personal Injuries Resolution Board (PIRB).
The PIRB Bill, once enacted, will increase the number of personal injury claims settled through an enhanced PIRB and reduce the expense and time associated with personal injuries litigation.
Commenting on the publication, CEO of Insurance Ireland Moyagh Murdock, said “it is encouraging that less than a week after the release of the PIAB report for 2021, which shows the positive impact of the Personal Injury Guidelines, we have the publication of the PIRB Bill. Insurance Ireland has continually advocated for the strengthening of the powers of PIAB as a means of reducing legal costs in the claims settlement process and the publication of this Bill is a big step in achieving this. We hope that the PIRB Bill will be implemented swiftly so that consumers can reap the benefits of an enhanced PIRB.”
You can see a full copy of the PIRB Bill here.